West Hartford's Massive Safety Push Continues This Summer

WEST HARTFORD, CT — The town's expansive Vision Zero Safe Streets program is taking over West Hartford this summer, with two more projects announced.

All work ongoing in town is designed to improve pedestrian/motorist safety, the specific goal being "zero" fatal accidents or serious injury incidents.

Raised crosswalks/speed bumps

Starting Monday, June 30, the town is installing 12 raised crosswalks and speed humps in several parts of town.

The final number is dependent on the contractor’s progress and weather. As many as possible will be installed by Thursday, July 3.

Speed humps are rounded, raised areas on the road designed to slow down traffic.

They are typically 3 to 4 inches high and 12 to 14 feet long, encouraging drivers to reduce their speed to around 15-20 mph.

"This helps create safer environments for pedestrians and cyclists, especially in residential areas and near schools," wrote the Town of West Hartford.

"Raised crosswalks are elevated pedestrian crossings that also function as speed humps. They make pedestrians more visible to drivers and ensure that vehicles slow down in high-traffic areas."

Pedestrian signals

Meanwhile, the town has also announced that "accessible pedestrian signals" (APS) are being installed at four locations to improve safety for all users this summer.

Accessible pedestrian signals are devices that provide auditory, visual, and vibrotactile information to pedestrians who are blind or who have low vision, who may also have hearing loss.

They operate so that all pedestrians of all abilities know when they should begin to cross at a signalized intersection.

The devices communicate "Walk" and "Don't Walk" at signalized intersections in non-visual formats to pedestrians.

Crews have already installed underground conduit at the entrance to West Hartford Town Hall on South Main Street at the intersection of Ellsworth Road.

Coming soon, additional APS equipment will be installed on: Farmington Avenue at Quaker Lane South; Quaker Lane South at Boulevard; Raymond Road at Isham Road; and Trout Brook Drive at Boulevard.

From June 29: 'Key Pedestrian Safety Project Completed In West Hartford'

From June 26: 'West Hartford Safety Initiative Targets Crosswalks'

From June 16: 'Life-Saving Swag Available At West Hartford Town Hall, Libraries'

From March 12: 'West Hartford Seeks Folks To Pledge To Drive Safely'

From March 3, 2024: 'WeHa Council Seeks 'Cultural' Change On Traffic Safety'

From Dec. 7, 2023: 'One Year After Tragedies, West Hartford Pledges Safer Roads'